Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein (New Swanstone) was begun in 1869 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It overlooks
Hohenschwangau Castle (the old Schwanstein castle), Lake Alpsee, Swan Lake, and, well, everything
else. The views from the castle are incredible, except for to the south, where the mountains
across the deep chasm carved by the river that runs next to the castle, block the view.

Ludwig built this fantasy castle on a peak, high above the lakes and plains of southern
Germany to the west, north, and east, with a backdrop into a 500-foot gorge to the south.

He also built a bridge across that gorge, an iron one with a slatted wooden footpath. It's
from that bridge that you get the best view of the entire castle. Unfortunately, the day we
were there, that narrow bridge was packed with jostling children and Japanese tourists. I got
about 5 feet out onto the bridge, looked down, started getting pushed around, and immediately
retreated. Ulla took my camera out onto the middle of the bridge and took the first picture
in this set. (Note: Neuschwanstein is the number one destination in Germany for Japanese
tourists and that was very evident. I don't make this stuff up, nor do I have anything against
Japanese tourists. I have a lot against standing 500 feet above certain death on a crowded
little bridge.)

From there, we hiked down, and up, to the castle. I was truly disappointed to find out that
photography was not allowed inside the castle. While its location and architecture are stunning,
its real brilliance, and that of Ludwig's, is inside. He'd built the entire structure as a
monument to his buddy, Richard Wagner. Paintings of scenes from Wagner's operas adorn every
wall in almost every room of the castle. The castle is luxurious in its artwork. It was also
not an uncomfortable place to live, unlike most castles in Europe. It was constructed relatively
late, had central heating and even had the first glass windows ever used in a castle. It could
have used an elevator or two, but, those had not yet been invented.

Unfortunately for him, Ludwig did not get to enjoy his fantasy for as long as he might have
liked. He was summoned to Munich in 1886 and died, along with his psychiatrist, by drowning on
June 13th of that year. Many questions still surround the circumstances of his death.

When he died, all work stopped on the castle. As a result, much of it, like the third floor
remains unfinished. But, what was finished stands today as a monument to what people can do.
When you put the whole picture together, Wagner's operas, the castle, the paintings, the
intricate woodwork, where they built it, and how, it really gives you reason to stop and think:
Is this a monument to one man's arrogance and eccentricity? Or is it something else... Something
more lasting...

Something like a monument to what human beings are capable of when given enough money, time,
and foresight. Neuschwanstein, to me, is not a monument to either Ludwig or Wagner. It is a
monument to art, artists, and artisans, and to that entire side of humanity.

Notes:

Julius Desing is an authoratative author on Ludwig II and Neuschwanstein. Unfortunately,
I can find no English link, and the German ones are only to bookstores. But, keep him in mind.

I could not leave the readers of this page without a link to what Neuschwanstein looks like
from the inside. This link covers not only that, but more history, more pictures, and is very
interesting: Neuschwantein.de